New York energy regulators told power companies in New York City to develop plans to keep the lights on in the Big Apple in case the giant Indian Point nuclear power plant, which supplies about a quarter of the city's electricity, is forced to shut down.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo wants the two reactors at Indian Point shut when their operating licenses expire in 2013 and 2015 in part because the nuclear plant is located in the New York metropolitan area, home to some 19 million people.

The governor has said even the most unlikely possibility of an accident is too much in the heavily populated area.

U.S. power company Entergy Corp, which owns Indian Point, says, however, the plant is safe, and the company is seeking to extend the reactors' licenses for another 20 years.

The 2,063-megawatt (MW) Indian Point plant is about 40 miles north of Manhattan along the Hudson River.

"Entergy and its employees continuously demonstrate the plants are safely operated, and is committed to safely operating this important facility for many more years to come," Entergy spokesman Jerry Nappi told Reuters Wednesday in an email.

On Tuesday, the state's energy regulator, New York Public Service Commission (NYPSC), directed New York City power company Consolidated Edison Inc to work with the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to develop a contingency plan to address the needs that would arise in the event Indian Point shuts down.

NYPA is a state-owned power generator that supplies electricity to government customers in New York City, including schools, hospitals, government buildings, subways and commuter trains.

"We will comply with the Commission's directive to work with the New York Power Authority to develop a contingency plan addressing the needs that would arise in the event of an Indian Point shutdown,"

“Indian Point supplies over 25% of New York City, Long Island and Westchester’s electrical energy. Over 2000 Megawatts of energy ( millions and millions of people rely on it ).
During the peak of summer, the reliance on Indian Point sometimes reaches 30%.

A shutdown of Indian Point, without sufficient alternatives, would threaten electric system reliability and potentially raise electric market prices.

Fukushima’s accident made people nervous about nuclear energy, so they want to shut Indian Point down to avoid something similar happening in the future.

The big question is this — WHAT DO THEY REPLACE INDIAN POINT WITH ? “

NOTHING.

Pataki said years ago if the plant closes a minimum of 5 conventional plants would be needed to take up the slack. The enviros went wild so he said it stays open.

I don’t see what the big problems is. They can go back to using slide rules and abacuses in the financial districts. Climbing stairs is good for your health we are told, and think of the stimulus to the candle-making industry.

4
posted on 11/30/2012 12:29:19 PM PST
by ElkGroveDan
(My tagline is in the shop.)

Is there even a possibility of a 9.2 earthquake and tsunami at Indian Point? Really? Oh, and by the way, forget about natural gas too: no fracking anywhere in NY.

Get ready to freeze in the dark, New York voters, when the idiot environazi/Rat cabal that you sent to Albany and DC arbitrarily shuts down almost 30% of your electrical capacity. Elections have consequences, dopes.

Shut down both reactors right now. I bet it would take all of week of a few thousand massive trailer mounted diesel generators parked outside every major NYC office building for them to start begging for Indian Point to be started again.

I thank God that neither Cuomo nor his cronies and coatholders will ever have to worry about brownouts,blackouts,etc.Perhaps he should be talking to the folks on Staten island about what it's like to be without power.But then again,maybe not...Staten Island votes Republican so what could Andrew *or* Baraq *possibly* learn from such rubes?

13
posted on 11/30/2012 12:42:20 PM PST
by Gay State Conservative
(Benghazi: What Did Baraq Know And When Did He Know It?)

This is just nuts. In light of what New Yorkers are already facing, just how in the Sam Hill are they going to fund the shutdown..and the ‘alternative?’. Trying for a Federal bailout? California, Chicago, New York...these people have gone completely around the bend.

Nuclear accounts for about nine percent of America’s energy, according to the Energy Information Administration, and has yet to cause a single fatality here. Wind, on the other hand, provides the United States with only 0.7 percent of its energy, and has been responsible for 35 deaths in the United States alone. So if we’re trying to weigh the costs and benefits of each, it seems wind fares far worse than nuclear. Yet no one seems to be discussing plans to halt production of all new wind farms until Americans’ safety can be guaranteed.

Just following in the footsteps of daddy. Mario Cuomo was governor when Shoreham was built. It was fine for all the union jobs and the taxes they made LICO pay for the plant. Once the work was done the environmental wacos said it cant run unless they have an evacuation plan. Cuomo told all state agencies not to approve any evacuation plan so it was DOA. Then he bought the plant from LICO for one dollar.

“Get ready to freeze in the dark, New York voters, when the idiot environazi/Rat cabal that you sent to Albany and DC arbitrarily shuts down almost 30% of your electrical capacity. Elections have consequences, dopes.”

They’ll blame the rate increases on greedy corporations and Republicans. This plant is about 15 miles NE of me, never had a problem with it. There are however some hysterical types over in NY who live near it and think it’s going to blow up or something, and that it’s causing cancer.

Your analysis is excellent. But facts make no difference to True Believers. Using its successful tool of incrementalism, the hard Left (which counts Cuomo as a member) will create a power shortage, increase prices astronomically and get away with blaming it on “Republican greed and obstructionism.” Just wait and watch.

The nukes in general are the safest power plants because of all the redundant safeguards. They are built for overkill. Fukishima OTOH disregarded recommended & required GE bulletins. Fukishima and Chernobyl are the exceptions because they didn’t follow protocol.

This is a dangerous situation and they need to shut that nuclear power plant down immediately, not wait for two years. another storm, earthquake, freak accident, global warming and NY will be toast, literally. and cuomo will be responsible. he knew it was dangerous and he let it continue anyway.

Obama is blocking coal genrated power plants and shutting them down.

I believe that this is a winnning plan for the Democrats. Supoort them on this. Build windmills (watch the fun)

30
posted on 11/30/2012 2:16:18 PM PST
by dirtymac
(Now is the for all good men to come to the aid of their country.)

Well, silly, the smart liberals have some double secret alternative energy supply they’ve been waiting to spring on their globe. Algore only needs global energy taxes and a carbon trading scheme to fund his alternative energy invention.

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